Abstract

The monthly meeting of this Society was held on Monday evening,August 17. The President, His Excellency Sir R. G. C. Hamilton,K.C.B., presided, there was a large attendance of Fellows, also anumber of ladies.Dr. 0. Burchard, of Hamburg, was elected a corresponding member,and the following to be members :—Walter Spencer, M.D., Launceston;W. F. M. Shells, M.R.C.S.E. ; George Henry Gibson, M.B. andCM., Edinburgh ; Wm. Earle, Mount Zeehan ; Ernest Milton Law,and Wm. Dubrelle Weston.The Secretary read the following letter from Captain Fairchild, ofthe New Zealand Government steamer Hinemoa.—" Wellington, June3, 1891 :—I see your Government has prohibited sealing on theMacquarie Island. It is a wise step, because if it had gone on a fewyears longer there would not have been a seal or a sea elephant left onthe island. I think the penguins (the king penguin Aptenodytes longirostris)should be protected for, say, five years on Macquarie Island,or else they will soon be all gone. The Secretary, in the absence of the author, read notes on the MountLyell district by Mr. F. Danvers-Power, F.G.S., being a rejoinder tocriticisms by members of the Society on the paper recently written by himon that subject. Also includes list of additions to the Library.

In 1843 the Horticultural and Botanical Society of Van Diemen's Land was founded and became the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science in 1844. In 1855 its name changed to Royal Society of Tasmania for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science. In 1911 the name was shortened to Royal Society of Tasmania.